It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

Albert Einstein

 This is one of my very favorite things about having this shop, the room it has to provide Art classes.  It brings me such joy to see others create in my little shop.

Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place.

When I look back at my life and remember when I was going through a very dark time, I asked God Why? I know now, He was putting everything into place so I could live my dream. I was 15 years old when I wrote my first business plan. Others followed through the years. I wanted to open a little Boutique, it just was not the right timing.
 I dreamed of opening a Boutique where people could go in and find that very special gift for a loved one and home decor destination for clients.  The location is large enough for that and large enough to fill it with all the dreams.
 In the boutique you will find hand made jewlery, every piece is unique and very special, one of a kind. Vintage furniture and home decor.  Art painted by myself and Art from Artist I feature each month. Farmtables made by my Father and Crochet items made by my Mother. Wood items made by my husband. I just added jewelry by another jewelry maker.

New beginnings are often dissguised as painful endings

Lao Tzu

                                                         

I have not written in such a long time because, I had a new beginning.  My painful ending happened when I lost a job that I had gotten closer to home.  When that happened I picked up my paintbrush and started painting, not knowing that soon after it would lead to me opening a Boutique - Studio.  So many wonderful things have happened and I have met the most wonderful people in the process.

Six months after I lost my job, I got a part time job at my Church. I work Mondays and Tuesdays and the Shop is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays

I will try to fill you in as much as possible in the next couple of weeks.

Remenber that you have only one Soul, that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one Glory, which is eternal.  If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.

William Maugham

Teaching Art is how I love to spend my day. I am so amazed in the art my students produce.

This was a watercoloer resist lesson. Fist we drew the turtles in pencil and outlined with oil pastels.  Then we added watercolor and sprinkeld with a little salt.  They turned out amazing!

Here are a few samples.

Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful

unknown

Plein air painting well, I did not carry the hard easel, I rested the canvas on a light post and made that work. I put the paint in containers so, it was lighter to carry.  Two week later I am still working on this painting.  We are learning about light and shadow.

Don't be afraid 

Just believe

One of my wishes for 2015 was to take a painting class at Delta with Mr. Moreno.  In the fall of 2009 I enrolled in Mr. Moreno's Painting class.  My son had taken his class and recommended Mr. Moreno. I was so exited and could not wait but something else happened.  I was offered a job and I was to start the same day as my paiting class.  I had been home for twenty years. But the job came up and I took the job.
 Now six years later I'm in his class and I love it!  I absorb every word that comes out of his mouth and I take notes and go over every thing he explained in class.  This painting looks easier than it was.  On Thursday he lecured about landscape painting. He had told us to dress warm because we were going to paint outside.  So, on Thurdsay I layed my clothes.  I had an undershirt, a long sleve shirt, a heavier sweater, and a very heavy coat.  I wanted to stay warm. He sent us out, I was carrying four quarts of paint plus all my painting suppies, my 24x30 canvas and a bucket of water! There I was carrying all my stuff with my arms partly extended because of all the layers and I took off to look for the perfect location.  I could not find it, everything he had talked about for painting this perfect landscape was just not there.  I walked from one side  to the other huffing and puffing, my back was killing me! And on that cold and drizzily day I was HOT! I finally stopped because I could not carry my stuff any longer. I thought of the Great Masters that probably could paint at any location amd produce that masterpiece so I said, "Letty, this is your spot. Now make the best of it!" Next week I have to carry a heavy metal easel. But I have a plan.

The secret of being happy is accepting  were you are in life and making the most out of every day.

These are the clay hearts I created.  They are painted red then I painted flowers on them and added a pearl to the heart.  I thought they looked unfinished so I went back and outlined the flowers with a black outline that finished the heart and it tied well with the black cord.

Jewelry has the power to be this one little thing that can make you feel unique

It rained all day yesturday, I made jewlery almost all day sitting by the window watching the rain.  This was the end on my working day.  Love the weekends!

A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others

Frank Morgan

Making clay heart pendants on this raining day and loving the way they are turning out.  Now I just need to paint some flowers on them and they will be done.

We dont stop playing because we grow old...

We grow old because we stop playing.

Just playing around with paint.  My biggest goal for 2015 is organizing my time.  It was very clear to me that I was doing to many things last year.  But, I do love challenges so, this year I will be attending Delta College as well.  I will be taking a painting class!  I start in two weeks and I am super excited!  I can't wait!

Happy 2015!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

So many plans for this new year, I will share along the way.

Remember that you have only one soul, that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one Glory, which is eternal.  If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

 I can not belive the end of this year is upon us.  Much to fast for all the paintings I wanted to paint.  There were so many blessings this year, one of them was joining the Lodi Community Art Center.  I meet so many beautiful, creative people.  I got a part time job this summer and my Father has recovered from his stroke!  I can't wait for all the blessings that the new year will bring!
This was a painting that I painted over the summer.  It took me four months to finish, Alot longer than I hoped.  But at the end I was happy with it and it went to a very good home.

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.

Georgia O'Keeffe

I have been working on this painting of my sister's and I for the last six months.  The plan was I would finish before Christmas.  I have not been painting it for six months, It has been sitting waiting for me for six months.  

Today is my day off from work so, I took my parents out for breakfast.  Spending time with my parents has been on my to do list for the last few months.  I am so greatful to have them so close. I will finish the painting very soon.

Beauty is'nt about having a pretty face.  It's about having a pretty mind, pretty heart, and a pretty soul.

As we are coming to the end of this year. Im thinking there were so many things I did not do.  There are so many ideas in my head and so little time.  The best part about my year is that I made time for friends and family.  I did say "yes" to every invitation and I had a great time.  The challenge for the coming year will be to continue what I'm doing plus add all the things on my list that I want to do.

This painting I have shared with you before except a little different.  I painted the background a different color.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I ended up where I needed to be.

Douglas Adams.

I can't believe this year is almost over!  I still have so much on my to do list.  I did  not have a chance to do.
 My father had a stroke this summer and the doctor said if my father was to wake up from his coma we would probably never see the father we remembered.  Well, my father woke up and the doctor was right, he is not the same person.  I think he is better!  I realized this journey we are on is all about the time we spend with our loved ones. Since my father came home from the hospital I go see him everyday.  There is something so special about my father and I am so grateful he was given a little more time so we can spent together.

I still find each day 

too short for all

 the thoughts I

want to think, all 

the walks I want to

 take, all the books 

I want to read, and 

all the friends I 

want to see. 

John Burrough

This is another one of my florals. 

 It's 20x20 acrylic on canvas. 

I have been painting everyday.  It's what I have been trying to do for a while.

I paint before work, I paint after work.  I paint all weekend long then,  I make jewlery, I clean the house, wash clothes, pickup my daughter from school all that.  I visit with my parents everyday even if it's just for a little while. Never enough time for everything I want to squeeze into my day. But last weekend I spent some time with my friend Clare.  I must admit I had a hard time letting my mind go and relax especially with inspiration everywhere.  But I had a great time with an old friend.  Thanks Clare, I needed that!

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

On September 5th I had my first Art Exhibit! 

 I am beyond excited where I am in my life right now.  I painted all summer and showed a few pieces.  I have many unfinished pieces that I am working on.  I had a huge turn out.  Met many  new beautiful people that came to see my art.  

My daughter Stephanie just finished baking school.  Just in time!  They tasted amazing!

This is one of my pieces I showed that evening.  I had more pieces than space on the wall so I used table easles to display the rest.

"Anything is possible with a little sunshine and a little pink."

Lilly Pulitzer

Pink flower series

I have been teaching art classes for children for many years and this is one of my favorite lessons.  It's so much fun to teach and the children's paintings always look better than mine!

 I started out by covering the background with a solid color.

 I used a chalk to outline the design.

 Paint the vase any color desired.

 Mixed my pretty pinks for my flowers.

Added greens for the leaves.  You can add a backgournd color or leave it just like this.

This world is but a canvas to our imagination.

Henry David Thoreau

House on the left

I started out with an idea, sketched it out.

 Then painted with a pallet knife to give it texture.

filled the whole canvas with color using the knife.

The last step I washed with india Ink.